In Sickness...

By: Rick Hernandez

As I sit on my bed convalescing for a few days, I find myself grateful. Yes, I do feel ill and hurting, but I also feel comforted by the love of our people. So many have gone out of their way to pray for and support me (and my wife) that I have understood well what it means to love one another and let others care for me.
 
Like most of us, I tend to be the active one, the one others ask for prayers and support, and I take that very seriously, but this is probably the first time in my life that I require prayers and support from my brethren. And you know what? It is good to provide those close to us with the opportunity to practice their charity, hope, and faith. 
 
In our RCIA sessions, we try to teach our newly called to the faith what it means to care for one another, what it is to be the body of Christ. If one rejoices, we all rejoice; if one suffers, we all suffer. It is good that we can put that into practice, that as we grow to give of ourselves in the name of Christ, we also accept the gift of selves of our fellow brethren.
 
I was able to be anointed by a dear priest friend, who went out of his way to accommodate me, and I was able to commune with Christ Eucharistic the day before the procedure. What a gift!
 
I am not out of the woods yet. I still have another procedure scheduled that hopefully will take away most of my long-term pain. Through the grace of God and with the faith and charity of the ones who love us, we continue moving forward. 
 
Pray for one another, care for each other, and reach out to the ones in need, but also let others do the same for you so that the grace of God continues flowing throughout the world.
 
Thank you for your prayers.

Rick Hernandez

Common sense Catholic. Rick Hernandez is a Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament and a Director for Elisheba House. He lives in Trinity, Florida, with his wife Ivonne and their children. He also writes for the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament's Daily Eucharistic Reflection and for Catholicmom.com.